A Kingdom of the Mind: How the Scots Helped Make Canada

Clint MacNeil teaches history, geography, and world religion at St.
Charles College in Sudbury.

The 15 essays in this collection explore the indelible mark that early
Scottish immigrants have left on Canada’s traditions and institutions.
Ted Cowan explains that “by the mid-nineteenth century the
Scottishness of Canada had become a literary assumption.” Whether it
was the naming of geographical locations or numerous narratives and
periodicals that described the Canadian wilderness, the Scots forged an
image of Canada that resonates today.

Highland military dress accompanied by the pipes creates an image of
both discipline and victory. Many Scottish soldiers received land in
Lower Canada for their service with the British Empire in the 1760s.
Given their record for bravery and discipline it is not surprising that,
as H.P. Klepak writes, “there was an explosion of Canadian units that
elected to become Scottish or Highland.” Press coverage, parades, and
the perceived prestige undoubtedly augmented the militia’s popularity.


Edinburgh’s medical school was popular with international students
and garnered it a reputation as a world-class facility in the 1790s.
Physicians trained at the Royal College of Surgeons brought their
medical expertise to Canada and helped establish medical schools at
McGill, Queen’s, and Dalhousie. The Scottish model of medical practice
was so highly regarded that those who could not afford to study in
Scotland “could at least apprentice to a Scottish graduate,”
according to Jock and Janet Murray.

The Scots also helped establish Canada’s public school system. They
advocated the creation of schools that promoted both moral and religious
instruction. As Roderick MacLeod notes, the Scottish philosophy that
“education for all should be the business of all” led to the
establishment of property tax collection.

The scholarly work of these authors is testament to those Scots whose
foresight, knowledge, and tenacity allowed them to forge a nation that
mirrored their homeland.